SG/SM/9253
                                                                                                                        13 April 2004

Secretary-General Welcomes Freeing of Long-Held Medical Aid Volunteer in Dagestan

NEW YORK, 12 April (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the freeing of Arjan Erkel, a volunteer for the non-governmental aid organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, who had been abducted on 12 August 2002 while working in the Russian Republic of Dagestan.  He thanks the Russian and Dagestani authorities for their efforts to facilitate Mr. Erkel’s release.

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